A group of managers at the Deluth, Ga., facility of Iron Mountain, a global storage company, gathered the truck drivers to “educate” them about unionization, according to the recording. But the lesson, which came ahead of a worker vote on whether to unionize, was largely one-sided.

Managers reminded workers that a union would “make things much more difficult,” that “this is the South” (where unionization is less prevalent) and that workers would have to decide whether they wanted to join the union and then live with the consequences during their upcoming contract negotiation.

“Remember this is a huge decision,” one of the managers said in the recording. “It’s a change that you will have to live with for three years.”

Towards the end of the meeting, one of the managers unironically adds, “let’s just keep it intimidation free,” referring to union representatives' efforts to talk with workers.

Iron Mountain spokesman Dan O'Neill confirmed in an email to The Huffington Post that the recording captures "our manager’s efforts to begin educating our employees." Still, he said, the company can't verify whether the recording is complete or unedited.

"Our intent in these meetings is to inform employees, not to pressure them as the union alleges," O'Neill wrote. "We respect our employees’ legal right to form unions. We are committed to ensuring they’re properly and legally educated to make an informed decision. We care about our employees and believe we’re in the best position to reward them with competitive pay and benefits for their talents and hard work."

> Pct. of workers in unions: 5.2% (tied for 9th lowest)
> Union workers: 125,557 (25th lowest)
> 10-yr. change in union membership: 8.7% (7th largest increase)
> Total employment: 2,433,824 (21st highest)
Just over 5% of the state’s workers were members of labor unions in 2012, down from 5.6% in 2002 and from 6% in 2011. Arizona is one of a handful of states where private sector union membership expanded between 2002 and 2012, growing by more than 16%. However, the state’s conservative leadership has increasingly become hostile toward these groups. In 2012, Governor Jan Brewer announced her support for legislation to weaken labor unions. Among the proposals were laws prohibiting public labor unions from collective bargaining, ending automatic payroll deductions for union dues and stripping civil-service protections for state employees, making it easier to fire them. The legislation was not passed.
(Photo: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and President Barack Obama)
<a href="http://247wallst.com/2013/02/22/the-states-with-the-strongest-and-weakest-unions-3" target="_hplink">Read more at 24/7 Wall St. </a>